Tippecanoe Lake Fishing Report

Current Fishing Report: Good

Bass fishing is currently experiencing major changes in the way anglers are approaching the sport. The expanded use of high-tech fish finders is giving anglers, who fish from a boat, a distinct advantage. The fishing hasn't really changed, but the catch rate has increased considerably. The advent of new lures and equipment has improved success for anglers fishing from the bank. Savvy anglers, who study bass patterns, continue to catch nice fish, with or without the new gadgets.

SUMMER. Summer bass are active early and late in the day around weed edges, lily pads, docks, and fallen timber. As sunlight increases, fish move to deeper weedlines and offshore structure. Topwater fishing can be excellent during low-light periods. Water temperatures warm considerably in Summer, so bass feed shallow, early and late in the day. As the day warms, they are typically caught in 8 to 15 feet of water. During Summer, keep an eye on the thermocline to determine the maximum depth to fish, as there is very little oxygen below the thermocline. Largemouth bass here feed on frogs, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are typically caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 12 to 20 feet deep. Drop shots, and wacky-rigged stick worms often catch finicky bass when the bite is slow.

FALL. Cooling water brings bass into aggressive feeding mode as they follow schools of perch and bluegill along remaining green weeds and rocky shorelines. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and jig presentations become especially productive. When Fall arrives, bass here will follow schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays where crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits have been successful in prior years. In early Fall, anglers typically have success in 8 to 15 feet of water, around points and shallow flats leading to deeper water. As deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps. Here flutter spoons are often the ideal bait in 15 feet of water, or deeper. Some of the larger bass will seclude themselves away from the school, often in slightly deeper water.

WINTER. Ice fishing is possible during winters when safe ice develops. Largemouth bass become sluggish and are usually incidental catches while anglers target bluegill, crappie, perch, and pike. Slow jigging presentations around remaining green weeds offer the best opportunity. The cold of Winter will isolate largemouth around deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. Water temperatures are usually in the low high 40's to mid 50's, and bass can be found near the bottom, or suspending from 10 to 20 feet deep over deeper structure. Bass often move a bit shallower on warm, sunny days. Also, some of the larger bass will isolate away from schools. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations with drop shots, jigs, spoons, finesse worms, or lipless crankbaits are often the key to getting bites.

SPRING. Spring is the premier season for largemouth bass on Tippecanoe Lake. Fish move shallow as water temperatures climb, feeding aggressively before spawning. The post-spawn bite remains excellent around emerging weed growth. When water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water near spawning areas. Vibrating jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits are typically get bites just away from the shoreline. In early Spring they feed aggressively in about 6 to 12 feet of water, and prepare for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 3 to 8 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 6 to 12 feet deep. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, drop shots, plastic worms, jigs, spoons, and swimbaits catch bass when they are not shallow.

Current Fishing Report: Good To Very Good

SUMMER. Smallmouth bass remain active throughout the summer, holding around deep rock structure, gravel points, and submerged humps. Early morning and evening provide excellent shallow action, while midday fish typically move deeper along rocky breaks. During the warmer months, Smallmouth bass typically feed shallow early and late in the day, in 5 to 12 feet of water. They are often caught on topwater, crankbaits, swimbaits, Ned rigs and tube baits. Smallmouth bass here feed on crawfish, shiners, minnows, and small sunfish. They prefer rocky or gravel bottom areas, as this is where crayfish live. Popular Summer holding areas include rip rap shorelines, as well as rocky points, humps and structure near the thermocline. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, humps, and ledges around 12 to 28 feet deep. Often these deeper fish tend to school, so finding them can deliver some fast action.

FALL. Fall is one of the best seasons for trophy smallmouth. Cooling water triggers aggressive feeding as bass chase perch and minnows along rocky shorelines and offshore structure before winter. Once Fall arrives smallmouth move into coves and bays, 10 to 18 feet deep. They thrive in the cooler, shallow water, which is an ideal environment for them. Locals report that tube jigs, and drop shot rigs with small worms or shad shaped plastics, are popular in 10' water or deeper. Worms, jigs, deep-diving crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits, are also successful when bass are shallow to mid depths. Later in Fall, smallies move to 15 to 25 feet deep.

WINTER. Winter isolates smallies around deeper structure, points, flats and creek channels, often suspending in open water above these features. Ice fishing is possible when safe ice conditions develop. Smallmouth bass are rarely targeted during winter but are occasionally caught while fishing for perch, bluegill, or walleye. Slow jigging presentations near deep rock structure produce the occasional fish. Tube baits, drop-shot worms, jigs and Ned rigs tempt smallmouth to bite in 18 to 30 feet of water. I like to work these deeper haunts very slowly in cold weather, as the bass are somewhat sluggish. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Smallmouth fishing can be very good on cold, windy, cloudy and rainy days.

SPRING. Spring offers outstanding fishing as smallmouth move shallow to feed before spawning. Pre-spawn fish are aggressive along rocky shorelines, and the post-spawn bite remains excellent around nearby drop-offs. Water temperatures will have risen into the 50's, and smallmouth are moving from deep wintering spots to shallower water, just outside spawning areas. They are feeding aggressively in 8 to 15 feet of water at this time, and are typically caught on jerkbaits, crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, and crayfish imitating plastics. Once water warms into the high 50's, they move into shallower water, 3 to 10 feet deep and create nests in gravel or sand areas, then lay their eggs. Some of the better spawning areas include protected, shallow flats and points. Females then move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move into 8 to 15 feet deep, and feed aggressively. Crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, plastic worms, spoons and swimbaits are catching smallies during this period.

Current Fishing Very Good To Excellent

Bluegill are a primary food source for predator fish here, as well as a fun fish to catch.

SUMMER. Summer offers excellent bluegill fishing throughout Tippecanoe Lake. Following the spawn, fish remain around weed beds, docks, submerged timber, and emerging vegetation. Larger 'bull' bluegill often hold slightly deeper along outside weed edges during bright afternoons. Following the spawn, most of the bigger bluegill migrate to deeper water, around 8 to 18 feet deep. They prefer rocky or weedy areas, often hanging out on steep, rocky banks where they can move up and down to feed without having to travel a great distance. Small spoons, underspins, and mini-crankbaits are catching some of the bigger bluegill. Earthworms also catch good numbers. Early and late in the day, anglers catch them in 4 to 10 feet of water.

FALL. Cooling water keeps bluegill actively feeding as they gradually move toward deeper weed edges and basin structure. Schools become more concentrated, making them easier to locate. Cooling, Fall weather drops the water temperature in the shallows and bluegill move shallow to feed, around the edges of weedlines. In early Fall they prefer 8 to 12 feet of water. Steeper banks, and shallow weedy areas with drop-offs, are hold bluegill this time of year. Later in Fall, as the shallows get colder, bluegill will move out to 10 to 20 feet of water, in many of the same areas.

WINTER. Ice fishing can be excellent when safe ice conditions develop. Bluegill are one of the most popular winter targets on Tippecanoe Lake. Fish often school over deep weeds and soft-bottom basins, providing steady action throughout much of the ice season. Early in Winter bluegill were being caught in 12 to 16 feet of water. Cooling shallows have now driven the bluegill back to deeper cover. In Winter, they are often caught around weed edges. In areas with no cover, anglers typically find them around drop offs, into even deeper water. Ice fishing, in water ranging from 12 to 22 feet deep, will be the next fishing opportunity for anglers. Small pieces of worms, and other baits worked slowly, tends to get the best results.

SPRING. Bluegill move progressively shallower as water temperatures rise. Pre-spawn fish feed aggressively before spawning begins, and large colonies of bedding fish become common in late spring. In early Spring, bluegill migrate from winter holding areas toward the shoreline areas, and are typically caught around 8 to 15 feet deep. As the water warms to the mid 70's they will begin the spawning ritual, building nests in 2 to 5 feet of water. Many of the bigger bluegill prefer to spawn a bit deeper, depending on water clarity. After the spawn, bluegill drop to 5 or 10 feet deep. Small spinners and swimbaits, or jigs tipped with small pieces of nightcrawlers are good choices for catching a lot of bluegill in Spring.